Rail filler



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,642

A. c. FISCHER RAIL FILLER Filed July 23, 1927 I fiwizfor: zz 6 J/berz [1756/1671 Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT C. FISCHER, OECHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL FILLER.

Application filed July 23, 1927, Serial No. 207 95s.

. have been made of bituminous or other suitable material and of a shape substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

In installing such rail fillers in position be tween the web'and head of the rail it has heretofore been necessary to hammer or drive this rail filler into position. This rail filler being generally formed of bituminous material, in cool or cold weather becomes cold and stiff, which makes the hammering operation or driving operation difficult. The object of my present invention is to construct a rail filler adapted to overcome the difiiculties and to permit of it being driven into position between the headand flange of the rail without difficulty, and when so positioned to maintain itself in such position.

A further object of my invention is to provide in an alternative form of my rail filler a detaining strip or wedge, which not only coperates with my improved construction of rail filler to hold it in position but also functions to hold a number of such sections or strips in aligned relation. These and other objects of my inventio will be apparent from a perusal of the followin specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates one embodiment of my improved rail filler wherein the exterior face of the railfiller is provided with a portion adapted to permit the relative compressionof the upper and lower portions of the exterior face of the rail filler.

Figure 2 is a perspective of another form of my improved rail filler in position on the rail between the head and flange of the rail.

Figure 3 is another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 4 is a view of that embodiment shown in Figure 3, the view showing the manner in which the wedge-shaped strip is arranged in staggered relation with respect to two or more sections of the rail filler.

In its generic aspect my invention consists in providing the rail filler, and particularly the outer face of the rail filler, with a portion or portions constructed and arranged to permit the upper and lower portions of this outer face to be compressed relatively together, so that the rail filler as a whole can be driven quickly home into position between the head and base of the rail. This portion of the outer face of the rail filler, which permits the temporary deformation of the rail filler when being driven into position, may

be'formed either by providing this outer face of the rail filler with a more compressible portion than the remaining parts of the rail filler, as for instance, by a felt or other strip extending longitudinally of the rail filler, or

by providing a continuous groove extending longitudinally of the rail filler,or a series of spaced apart grooves, depressions or opennal of the rail filler.

. In Figure 1 of my drawing I have shown a section of a rail filler, preferably of bitumi' mgs extending preferably in a line longitudinous material but not limited thereto, which section is provided with a strip of felt 2, or other compressibleresilient material disposed in the outer face of the rail filler and extending longitudinally thereof at a point preferably midway between the upper and lower faces of the rail filler.

In Figure 2 I have shown the usual type of rail and I show another embodiment of my improved/rail filler 4 as having upper and lower surfaces 6 and 8 adapted to fit the surface of the underside of the head 10 of the rail and the'upper side of the flange 12 of the rail respectively. The strip also is provided with an inner face 14 adapted snugly to fit the vertical wall of theweb of the rail.

My invention comprises generally forming the outer face 16 of the rail filler, which is that face opposite the inner face 14, with a weakened portion, whichspecifically in the construction shown in Figure 2 is in the. form of a groove 18. This weakened portion is constructed and arranged so that when the rail filler is driven into position with a sledge hammer or mallet the upper and lower faces 6 and 8 of the rail filler will be forced slightly together, whereby enabling the rail filler to be easily driven into the position shown in Figure 2, and when in such position snugly to hug the upper and lower head and base portions 10 and 12. respectively of the rail, and this invention is particularly effective with certain types of rail fillers which are of material which is inherently resilient, or which is provided with resilient, fibrous reinforcing means The resiliency of the rail react so as to hold the rail filler in such position.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 3 the weakened portion 20 is substantially Wedge-shaped. It will be obvious that this weakened portion may be of any cross-section" and of any desired dimension to accomplish the function set forth.

In Figure 3 the wedge-shaped cross-sectional weakened portion is peculiarly adaptable for cooperation with a wed e-sha ed strip 22 of wood, of bituminous, 0 meta or any desirable material. By providing this wedge-shapedstrip 22 to fit into the wedgeshaped space 20, after the rail filler has been positioned as in Figure 3 I assure the close and snug fitting of the rail tiller against the sides of the head, base and web of the rail.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated how sections of my rail filler can be joined together by having the wedge 22 arranged in stag ered relation with respect to the ends 0 the ali ed sections so that the breaks 26 of the strips 22 will be in staggered relation with respect to the ends 28 of the rail filler sections. With this construction the wedgeshape d strips will assist in holding the sections of the rail filler together in position on the rail.

I claim:

1. A rail filler having a weakened portion of the rail filler.

portions for permitting the rail filler to be 6. A rail filler having a wedge-shaped "groove on its outer face extending longitudinally of the rail filler.

7. A rail filler having a wedge-shaped groove on its outer ,face extending longitudinally of the rail filler, and a wedgeshaped strip adapted to be driven into said 7 wedge-shaped groove. p 7 i 8. In combination a plurality of railfiller sections adapted to.be positioned between the head. and base of a rail in longitudinal alignment, said seetionshaving wedgeshaped grooves on their outer faces extending in registration, and a plurality of wed e-shaped strips disposed in said wedge-shaped grooves, the ends of the strips beingarranged in staggered relation with respect to. the ends of the sections. V V p 9. A rail filler of yieldable material rendered increasingly compressible "in predetermined regions to enable the ready insertion thereof in position. I

10. A rail filler of yieldable material rendered increasingly compressible intermediate parallel faces thereof-to enable its ready insertion in position. i 11. The combination with a plurality ofi railfiller sections rendered readily compres:

sible along longitudinally aligned regions,

and means for rigidifying said ahgned regions subsequent to the functioning ofsaid fillers. i

12; The combination with a plurality of rail filler sections rendered readily compressible along aligned regions, and means :for rigidifying said aligned regionssubsequent to the positioning of said fillers, said rigiditying means serving to. interconnect said fillers. Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this16th day ofJuly, 1927.

ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

